Strasbourg, 03/10/2001 (Agence Europe) - EU Council President Louis Michel confirmed on Wednesday at the European Parliament, during a joint debate on the Extraordinary Summit of 21 September in Brussels and the informal European Council of 19 October in Gent, that the Heads of State and Government will discuss, in Gent, the international fight against terrorism in addition to the themes already envisaged by the Presidency, namely the preparation of the Laeken Declaration on the future of Europe, the introduction of the euro and enlargement. The Belgian Foreign Minister specified as follows:
- Changeover to the euro. Ecofin Council President Didier Reynders, Commissioner for Economic and Monetary Affairs Pedro Solbes, and European Central Bank President Wim Duisenberg will report on the current state of preparations for transition to single currency, in order to correct the line of fire if necessary. The European Council will also provide an opportunity to discuss other more "political" aspects of the advent of single currency, and the question of candidate countries' use of the euro.
- Future of Europe. Mr Michel hoped that the General Affairs Council of 8 and 9 October would allow progress to be made on a future Convention, the "innovative instrument" that is to prepare the next Intergovernmental Conference on institutional reform, including the status of candidate countries within this Convention. As far as the mandate of the Convention is concerned, Mr Michel (who spoke in French and English alternatively) confirmed that the Belgian Presidency would like the Nice Declaration to be reworded to give a "wider agenda" to the next ICG. On 8 October, the Presidency will give a first briefing on the eventual structure of the Laeken Declaration, which should not be limited to procedural questions, said Mr Michel. He wished to reassure those who expressed fear about the Presidency's approach. Thus, he said, the question of going beyond the "four hyphens" of the Nice Declaration is a "non-issue" as the wording of the declaration leaves the possibility of enlarging the debate open. Furthermore, speaking to those who fear that they might have their "hand forced", Mr Michel confirmed that the Laeken Declaration will simply raise questions, and that the result of the Convention will be presented in the form of "options" ("If it were up to me, it would go further", he added). In response to questions put to him, Mr Michel specified that the number of participants at the Convention must be relatively small to guarantee that work is effective, and that different possibilities are being envisaged for involving candidate countries, including an "evolutive" solution, as well as the association of civil society representatives (arrangements for briefing and possible hearing).
- Enlargement. The Council will note the Commission's report (see below) and will thus verify whether the "roadmap" for accession talks is being respected.
Mr Michel also announced that the Presidency does not intend to prepare written conclusions for the informal European Council.
The European Commission "naturally hopes that the next General Affairs Council will formally demonstrate that all Member States are rallying" to the solution of a Convention, said the Commissioner for Institutional Affairs, Michel Barnier. He also recalled that the Commission was keen on "gearing" the work of the Convention to a more general debate. "This forum on the future of the Union (…) should encourage an exchange of ideas, as close as possible to the concerns of the civil society. The Convention should listen to these debates", said Mr Barnier, who also insisted on the need to "keep the link between institutional architecture and the European project", with the concern of "consolidating what has been achieved over fifteen years of European construction", which can mean that "when the environment changes, European construction may evolve without losing its reference points or its reason for being". For once, in this institutional reform process, said Mr Barnier, there is time to reflect, time to verify whether everyone is in agreement. He stressed that the reflection on the future of Europe must be conducted in the "new and serious international context", which strengthens the need for the European project. Furthermore, Mr Barnier:
- stressed the political scope of the use of the euro, next year, by 300 million citizens out of the 400 that live within the EU. The euro "will become a sign of stability, peace and shared identity"
and will represent "an unprecedented logistical challenge" with the arrival of 50 billion coins, Barnier also pointed out, stating that Pedro Solbes would be presenting a communication on the subject next week, in view of the Gent Summit.
- reaffirmed the need to keep-up the "political momentum of enlargement" and its "irreversible" nature within the respect of the principle of "differentiation" . The Commission will render public its regular reports on progress in candidate countries, Mr. Barnier recalled.
Summit of 21 September: Michel stresses that crisis provided impetus to European unification:
Barnier reaffirms that combating terrorism is no "clash of civilisations"
During the debate on the 21 September Summit, Louis Michel recalled the content of the action plan decided in Brussels, placing emphasis on the importance of developing international legal instruments and combating money laundering. As for the freeze on assets linked to terrorist activities, in answer to a question by British Liberal-Democrat Graham Watson, Michel stipulated at the end of the debate that measures taken urgently must be able to be reviewed (notably not to harm Muslim citizens exercising totally legitimate commercial activities within the Union - see other article on the vote in Parliament concerning the urgency demanded by the Commission on the draft regulation relating to the freeze on assets). A series of measures provided for by this plan concerns the strengthening of the common foreign and security policy so as to integrate the fight against terrorism dimension, including the systematic re-evaluation of relations between the EU and third countries in the light of the support these countries may provide terrorism, Mr. Michel recalled, stressing the Union's concern for "prevention" (prevention which, according to him, must comprise commitment to the integration of all countries in a sustainable global security and prosperity system). The crisis begun on 11 September, the Council Presidency finally noted, provided an impetus to European unification and allowed for genuine European leadership to be demonstrated. But the priority in the fight against terrorism must not detract the EU from other fundamental projects for European construction: introduction of the euro, enlargement and implementation of the European security and defence policy.
As for Michel Barnier, he reaffirmed that, over and above solidarity with the Americans, "the fight against terrorism is not - and cannot be - a clash of civilisations". "On the contrary, it is the fight that together, as equal partners, all nations of the world are embarked upon against forces wanting to destroy them, without concern for human life, with no respect for values that bind all men, beyond borders and cultures", the Commissioner emphasised, noting, moreover, that the terrorist threat "is, unfortunately, not unknown in some of our Member States", but that the Union's governments now wanted to "counter it together and by all means".
Bolkestein and Nielson placed on the line for their statements on Muslim countries
and globalisation
The recent statements by Commissioner Frits Bolkestein (on relations between the Muslim world and the West) and Poul Nielson (on globalisation and the role of the United States) led to reactions on the part of several MEPs during the debate on the Brussels Summit and preparations for Gent. The President of the EPP-ED Group, Hans-Gert Poettering recalled that, on Thursday, Mr. Mr. Nielson would be explaining himself on this issue at the Conference of Presidents, but, he added, should our group consider his explanations to be inadequate, it reserves the possibility of calling on President Prodi and Mr. Nielson (as well as Mr. Bolkestein) to come and explain themselves before plenary. With his statements to the Danish press, Hatmut Nassauer, German Christian-Democrat, added, Mr. Nielson "trod on the feet of European solidarity". Another Christian-Democrat, the Dutch Win van Velzen, said that Mr. Bolkestein had not only pronounced unacceptable words on the Arab world but, in criticising the shortcomings in immigration policy, had placed into question his colleague Vitorino. According to him, Mr. Prodi should urge Mr. Bolkestein to stick to making statements on areas within his competence, the internal market and tax. It is the whole Commission that is let down by this type of episode, concluded Mr. van Velzen.
In Brussels, Mr. Bolkestein's spokesman formally denied on Wednesday the words the Commissioner is claimed to have made, "who simply spoke of tensions and differences within Islam". Recalling that Mr. Bolkestein had contributed to two books on the subject, he said that the words taken from an interview with the daily De Volkskrant had been "taken out of context".
EUROPE will return to the other aspects of the debate on the Brussels and Gent summits.
European Parliament's Plenary Session (cont.)